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37. Holy Ton Sai, Nakhon Si Thammarat

This Ton Sai tree was originally a large ancient banyan
tree with the age of over 150 years. Its original trunk died,
but the aerial roots and branches have grown into three groups.
Group one is the aerial roots surrounding the original banyan tree.
It has the circumference of 27.4 meters. Group two is aerial roots
extending to the southwest. It has the circumference of 63.5
meters. Group three is aerial roots extending to the northeast.
It has the circumference of 16.7 meters and the height of
21.7 meters. This group grows across the Cha Uat - Phraek
Mueang Canal in the Royal initative Pak Phanang Basin
Development Project. During the excavation, there were
several interruptions. For instance, the engine of dredger
and excavator turned off every time when approaching the
large banyan tree. There were some workers who fell ill for
unknown reasons. The villagers believed that the cause of
this strange story was from mystical power of the banyan
tree. The remains of humans and other large animals as
well as seashells were unearthed under the banyan tree.
On November 16, 2002, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej
accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri
Sirindhorn came to the mangrove plantation plot of PTT
Public Company Limited in Pran Buri District, Prachuap Khiri Khan
Province. Mr. Chamnoon Plaidueng, a resident of Mae Chao Yu Hua
Subdistrict, Chian Yai District was gracefully given a chance to
have an audience with His Majesty the King Bhumibol and he
told the King about this large ancient banyan tree. His Majesty
the King Bhumibol therefore had the idea to establish a royal
shrine according to the ancient royal tradition. Later, Her Royal
Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn allocated the royal
budget to The Chaipattana Foundation for constructing the
shrine. The banyan tree shrine was entirely built from teak
wood. The surrounding area was paved with marble and was
beautifully landscaped.
Currently, the tree is under the supervision of Karaket
Municipality, Chian Yai District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province.

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